planetf1.com

“@TheFifthDriver: VERY sneaky first peek at the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-28, launching on Jan 31. Like it? #MP428 http://t.co/JPafAwmn”

that really is just a sneaky preview ... nice bmw shark fin aerial

A2jdl wrote:that really is just a sneaky preview ... nice bmw shark fin aerial

It's a hint at their 2014 engine supplier

Johnston wrote:

A2jdl wrote:that really is just a sneaky preview ... nice bmw shark fin aerial

It's a hint at their 2014 engine supplier

Telmex McLaren BMW
doesn't have quite the same ring..

Just to be clear, we reckon the pic's taken from roughly the drivers perspective?

It couldn't really be from anywhere else. Fin is too close to the front for it to be from the front of the car.

I reckon it looks more like a crate Chassis #1 away for tests.

A2jdl wrote:

Johnston wrote:

A2jdl wrote:that really is just a sneaky preview ... nice bmw shark fin aerial

It's a hint at their 2014 engine supplier

Telmex McLaren BMW
doesn't have quite the same ring..

Doesn't sound right does it? Though We may end up with a blue and silver car? or Blue and white, given BMW and Telmex both use a sort of similar blue as their primary colour.

This is all just speculation, I can't see Telmex McLaren BMW happening for some reason. Maybe I'm just too used to VMM.

Johnston wrote:I reckon it looks more like a crate Chassis #1 away for tests.

That was my first thought but then it clicked that it must probably be a cocpit view, but there's still something a bit off about that to my eye.

You know you're bored and missing F1 when analysis of a picture as vague and pointless as this draws you in!

It looks like there's a bit of unpainted carbon fibre down in the bottom left corner, which would make sense. And I think those indentations (two visible on the left, one on the right) might match these from the 2009 car...?:



Can't remember what they are now. Isn't one the emergency KERS button for the marshal's? I thought their neutral and fuel cut switches were somewhere else these days, assuming the cars still have them?

A soap box, very nice

Balibari wrote:

Johnston wrote:I reckon it looks more like a crate Chassis #1 away for tests.

That was my first thought but then it clicked that it must probably be a cocpit view, but there's still something a bit off about that to my eye.

It looks the wrong shape to be a cockpit view to me too square and those holes look like they are stamped, like in sheet metal way .

Could be taken from the bulkhead view? Facing the driver way.

Anyone got the pictures Lewis took from his 100th GP weekend. Pretty sure he did a "This is what I see" One .

That looks far too wide to be the cockpit. Could they perhaps be suggesting the side pod on the screen?

I've downloaded the image and opened it in Photoshop and played with exposure, brightness, contrast and a whole slew of other tricks and I see the gentleman working on something but the reflection suggests the if he is working on a car it might be sitting sideways. The reflection of the glass shows nothing above the visual plane of the picture so it's hard to decipher if and what the Tweet is referring to. Most likely it's the fin but I don't see much of anything from that yet.

A2jdl wrote:

Johnston wrote:

A2jdl wrote:that really is just a sneaky preview ... nice bmw shark fin aerial

It's a hint at their 2014 engine supplier

Telmex McLaren BMW
doesn't have quite the same ring..

No but with Honda having publicly stated late last year that they are looking to return to Formula 1…

Telmex McLaren Honda has a VERY nice ring to it!

Looks like a crate to me...or a random body panel. Don't see why they'd put a sticker with the model designation in the cockpit.

So I guess the livery won't change much then..

So freaking sneaky, i jizzed my pants

Seriously though, i'm really curious about what rocket-ship they'd come out with... As apart from 2012, you have to go back to '98-99 and then early 90's and 80's to see such dominant (pace-wise) cars from McLaren.

I also hope Williams is up to snuff this year again... it will be a classic to see Ferrari/ Williams and Macca battle , again! Oh yes, RBR in the mix doesn't hurt. Here's wishing everyone a spanking new exciting F1 season.

Add Sauber to the list too! The more the merrier!!!

Just a thought. Is there any possibility that the photo they shared is of a part that needs to be cut to shape? So for example if it was a shark fin antenna, that part is obviously just the carbon fiber part. Do they not still make the parts larger than needed, then cut the excess away?

Probably a long shot, but just thought it may be worth mentioning.

we should check Lewis twitter, I bet he already complaint about it... wait a sec, that would've been Merc then...

On a serious - I also thought that it is that small vertical fin that is in front of a driver, but who knows...

I reckon that is a shot of the nose, taken from where the front wing will be sitting. The bolt holes are for attaching the front wing, easily accessible in order to be replaced with ease during a pit stop.